R.I.P. (the hill)

[Doctor]

I'm with Chook on the capacity thing, I'd like to see it upped to around the 35,000 mark....As somebody said if prices go up next year to accomodate the temp reduced cap they wont come back down at the completion of work.

Ah...no I don't suppose they will. But that is the nature of business, and who are we to try and change the way people think. In saying that I do realise that the Knights are one club without a leagues club and therefore need all the revenue they can get - albeit it seems at the expense of the fans who support them, but you take money where you can.

The NSW Labor Government's new poker machine tax will hurt clubs even more, making it less likely the Knights will manage a Leagues club soon. While I don't support the concept of poker machines being used as widespread as they are now, the ramifications of the new taxes mean more money coming out of the leagues clubs.

On that point: I found it quite remarkable that clubs are claiming the new tax will hurt the community. The clubs claim that their donations to local charities and hospitals will have to be cut back in order for them to remain in the black.

But it seems that the extra $46 million revenue annually (how much I don't know) is actually going to be spent propping up the Health budget, thereby theoretically improving the communities' health and making the club's donations to charity seem obsolete compared with $46 million cheques - although one doubts that anywhere near all the revenue will be spent this way.

Interesting side note anyway.

 

[antonius]

On that point: I found it quite remarkable that clubs are claiming the new tax will hurt the community. The clubs claim that their donations to local charities and hospitals will have to be cut back in order for them to remain in the black.

That has actually started to happen, the local bowling club here used to donate a substancial amount of that money to my sons local soccer club, they have already notified us that the amount we have recieved in the past will be reduced signifcantly next year. That is a bitter blow to us as that money used to buy training balls, field marking paint etc. That expense will now come back to us parents as usual, after having to prop up soccer Australia for the last two seasons we now have this to contend with. Families soon will be priced out of childrens sport.

 

[gnome]

As some of you may be aware, I am a Supervisor at a small/medium licensed club in the Lake Macquarie area.

We did not really set the world on fire last financial year, just keeping our head in the black to the tune of about $25,000. During that period the club supported various community projects including aged care, local sport, sids research and the rescue helicopter to the tune of about $20,000. We estimate that when the new tax reaches it full implementation it will cost our club between $30,000 and $50,000.

As you can see, the donations will be the first thing to get the chop, and being realistic I suppose my long term employment could get a bit shakey as well.

But it is not just small/medium size clubs like ours that are affected. Panthers posted a profit of $22mil. The new tax will cost them $24mil. Now wether they waste money by the truckload on stupid stuff or not, the first thing to go will be the bags of cash spent on community projects and local sport.

The NSW government states this extra tax is to be spent on hospitals. They have claimed that previous taxes would be too and the Hospital system is still a shambles with little of the previously promised cash ever making it out of the consilidated revenue pot. The proceeds from the new Pokie Taxes will be no different.

I am the first bloke to tell you that gambling is a real problem in this state, but the proposed taxes are just plain bad news for community funded projects.

 

[Doctor]

You make some valid points Gnome - and to see some of it there is plain English, spelling and calculating out the financial situation of a particular club makes me realise how there are two sides to every coin.

I don't necessarily support their way. Gaming in this country, especially this state, is actually costing the community anyway, and one can argue that even if clubs are donating money back to the community, is this in fact compensating for the hardship their business already does to families battling gambling addiction.

It is a touchy subject because gamers want money, the clubs want more money, the community want to have the money donated to them, and Government is all about making the best use of money and getting re-elected.

Everyone has a motivation here, and all these decisions do is bring out the selfishness in people and organisations.

One thing I will say is that if the NSW Government actually spent all of the extra revenue on community projects, and particularly the health system, then I would support this new tax. Gaming in this state is bad enough, and the costs of maintaining community welfare would be reduced if gaming was reduced. But I have a sneaking suspicion that Mr Carr and his goons won't be injecting all the revenue into the community at all - he is right when he says 'some' of it, but treading on thin ice if he tries to convince me that all of the money will go into the community.

As for Bob Carr - the word is that Federal politics are keen on him joining his Labor buddies in Canberra. Seeing as though under his control our health system, transport, police and aged care have declined, why not let him loose on Canberra, get him elected so he can stuff the rest of the country - just for the sake of a nice balance. :idea:

 

[~knights~]

In all seriousness though, im trying to get a grasp on what ground reconfigurations over the off season will do to crowd capacities. In terms of Marathon, when is the stadium due to be completed? And will it either increase or decrease the capacity? Any pics would be appreciated!

Cheers,
Moffo

With the full funding from both the state and federal goverments,the stadium would look like this and seat 25,444 fans.

But since we only have the state funds (22 mill)so far ,its just the eastern grandstand etc which is getting built

 

[iggy plop]

The Knights should have a minimum capacity of 30,000 - 25,000 is selling the club short.